Nutritional Therapy at Jones Memorial Hospital

Personalized strategies for healthful living

Some of the most serious health conditions—obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease—can be prevented or managed through simple lifestyle changes and healthier habits. If you would like to improve your health by eating better, the specially trained nutrition expert at Jones Memorial Hospital is here to help! Our outpatient medical nutrition therapy program is designed for people living with diabetes or cancer, patients recovering from a heart attack, expectant mothers, and individuals who would like to lose weight, lower their cholesterol and blood pressure, or simply feel better.

Expert Nutrition Counseling

During your first visit with our registered dietitian, we'll review your medical history, current eating habits and personal wellness goals, and then develop a personalized nutrition plan that's right for you. Our goal is to help you make gradual, long-term changes in your eating habits and lifestyle, providing encouraging support and advice along the way.

Certified Dietetic Specialist

The nutrition professional at Jones Memorial Hospital is a registered and certified dietitian with an undergraduate degree in human nutrition. As a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, our dietitian keeps up to date with the latest nutrition research and continuing education to enhance her knowledge and skills.

Comprehensive Outpatient Services

Whatever your motivation, losing weight, increasing energy, preventing disease or complications from a current medical condition, the nutrition therapy program at Jones Memorial Hospital provides some of the area's most comprehensive dietetic counseling for children, teens, men, women, and older adults.

Our areas of expertise include:

Cancer

Cardiac rehabilitation

Celiac disease

Diabetes

Digestive disorders

Elevated cholesterol

Food allergies

Gestational diabetes

High blood pressure

Kidney disease

Obesity—childhood and adult

Osteoporosis

Pregnancy and prenatal care

Sports nutrition

Weight loss and management

Preparing for Your Visit

Please bring the following items to your nutrition therapy appointment:

Physician prescription and referral sheet, including prescribed diet order

An indication of the medical condition requiring nutrition therapy

List of medication and nutritional supplements you take currently

Any pertinent lab test results

Medical insurance information

Any food diary and/or blood sugar records you have been keeping

Medicare Part B Beneficiaries

Our outpatient dietitian is a registered Medicare provider. Medicare Part B beneficiaries with a diagnosis of diabetes or non-dialysis kidney disease are eligible for medical nutrition therapy. Medicare Part B reimburses three hours of nutrition therapy for the first year and two hours each year thereafter. A referral from your primary care physician, including the appropriate diagnosis, is required to participate in the nutrition therapy program. We must receive appropriate lab work from your doctor before your first visit.

Insurance and Referrals

A physician referral is required for outpatient medical nutrition therapy at Jones Memorial Hospital. We offer convenient day and evening appointments to meet your scheduling needs. Some insurance carriers may provide reimbursement for program fees, but some participants may be required to cover the cost themselves. Before scheduling a consultation, please check with your insurance company to confirm the extent of your coverage.

Nutrition Therapy is located in the main hallway of the hospital. For more information, please contact Registered Dietitian Erika Zerkowski MS, RD, CDE, CDN. She can be reached at (585) 593-1100 ext. 5424 or contact her at zerkowskie@jmhny.org.